Peter Dobihal, of Austria Connection has died at the age of 78.
Dobihal was found murdered at his own home in Cresta, Johannesburg, in April and according to local media two domestic employees on the property, along with two of their acquaintances have been charged with kidnapping, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
Dobihal’s wife, Inge, founder of Austria Connection, passed away from cancer in November last year, in Johannesburg.
The Dobihals were both much loved and appreciated by the travel community in Johannesburg. Peter was an electrical and civil consulting engineer by training, but on retiring, immersed himself in Austria Connection. Both he and Inge had encyclopaedic knowledge of Austria, Central and Eastern Europe. While Inge was front and centre of their business, Peter was always in the background, lending support and encouragement to the operations.
Peter was born in Vienna and came with Inge to South Africa on honeymoon in 1966, on the ship Europe. The couple had been married 55 years on Inge's death.
The Dobihals did not have any children.